In the early morning of December 2nd, I was sitting out on my front porch looking out over a fresh blanket of snow. It was so mesmerizing and I was awestruck that I couldn't take my eyes from it. The glistening snow almost looked like marble. I had to go to the store to get early Christmas presents for my grandchildren. I am a lonely ol' geyser, I thought to myself. I chuckled quietly as I got into my 57' Chevy Truck. My truck had a whopping 82,000 miles but the gas mileage was great. It always took me two tries to get my truck started, but it took only once this time. That is when I knew today was going to be different. So I was heading out of my driveway into the quiet street and started off my journey. It was 6:35 in the morning when I looked on my clock on the dashboard. The reason why I left so early was because I lived a hour away from the big city in Memphis, TN. I live 135 Reedwade Road in Gallatin, TN. It was 7:40 when I get to town and the streets are filling up fast of people who have to go to work. I find the store that I go to every morning, the Meat Shack. It has all the meat you could possible want.
"Good morning! Edwin McCullen is it?" asked the door greeter.
"Yes that would be me. And you are?" I asked.
" I am Michal, Mike for short."
"Well hello then Mike nice to meet you."
"The pleasures all mine."
"I must be getting my meat now so I will see you around."
"Most definitely."
So I wondered through the store looking for some steak for tonight. I found it next to the ribs. I got two packages for tonight and tomorrow. As I waited behind a young couple I thought to myself of what else to have with the steaks.
"Next."
"What-oh sorry."
"That's ok."said the cashier."It looked like you were deep in thought."
"Oh, I was just thinking about what to do with these steaks."
I pointed to the steaks on the conveyor belt.
"And who to eat them with." I said
"Oh! well I am free tonight." she said as she blushed.
"My name is Kayla."
"My name is-"
"Edwin McCullen." Kayla finished for me.
"Yes...that is me." I said.
Kayla said,"Sorry, but your in here quite often so I asked around and people told me about how your wife passed away not to long ago."
That stopped me cold. I haven't had anyone ask me about my wife in over three years.
"Yes, she did pass away not to long ago. Well I must be going, I will pick you up around 7:30ish. How much for the steaks?"
"It's on me. I live in Memphis. 253 North Avenue to be exact." Kayla said.
"Thank you I will see you then." I said.
And that was it, I left the store and stayed in my truck not wanting to move, because I broke a promise. I had a date and I told my wife before she died, I will never date again. It got to cold to sit for any longer so I started my truck and left. It had been snowing slightly as I was driving down the read. But as I was leaving Memphis into Gallatin it picked up big time. I could only see 2 feet in front of me as my windshield blades dared to stop working as they had so many times before. I rounded a curve and out of no where a car slid on some ice and was heading my way. As an instinct I swerved out of there way and my truck lost balance and started rolling. 1...2...3 times I counted being rolled. Finally my truck stopped and everything was quiet. I was lucky I was wearing my seat belt so I unclicked it and was about to get out when I fell sideways.
"What..." I said dazed.
I surveyed the damage and realized my truck was on its side and I blacked out. Oh my God this is it, I am ready to die. Wait no I can't be, it is to hot to be heaven. No, am I in Hell? No, I smell smoke and hear sirens back off in the distance. I came to then and I saw nothing but orange and heard popping and crackling. There was yelling I was sure of it. It was yelling my name. It was telling me to stay still and cover my face. I listened to the voice and did as it told me. There was metal grinding and things snapping. My face was still covered as I got dragged out of my truck. All was quiet then there was cheering and congratulating. Then all was quiet again as I was put in the ambulance. I uncovered my face and was shocked of what I saw. I picked my head up slightly to look at my legs first, they were cut and scraped so badly that my pants legs had to be removed. They were black and charred. Skin was hanging from them and I thought I was going to be sick so I looked at other body part. My arms and hands they weren't to bad just bruised and cut. They were pink from the heat but that was it. There was a white bandage on one of my hands, hum whats that for? I thought. Something caught my eye in the ambulance, something shiny. I looked over and I could see my reflection, my torso was bleeding and bruised, it was also bare. What happened to my shirt? I thought. I couldn't remember anything after I flipped or I guess rolled actually. My face didn't look like mine, it looked like it belonged to someone else. My nose was mashed in not button like it had been. My cheeks were swollen and not set on perfect cheek bones. My eyes, well one eye actually because the other one was closed shut. My eye was red and looked horrified, not blue and fragile like before. Beside my gurney was a jar with ice in it. And something small and roundish. I looked again as we went over a bump and the ice shifted. It was a finger. And for the second time today I passed out.
Beep...beep...beep I heard but I didn't want to open my eyes. My head and everything else was aching. I rustled slightly and heard noises. I couldn't place them and they sounded far off so I listened harder.
"Shh, your going to wake him." a girl said.
"Sorry, I don't think he will wake up so easily. He is on heavy medication." said a little bit older girl.
"Is he going to be alright?" asked a little boy.
" I'm sure he is Ben. Your grandpa is a fighter." said the first girl.
Ben, I know that name. Oh he is my grandson. I thought.
I didn't want to hear more so I moved a little louder making sure they heard me. When I opened my eyes everything was white until my eyes focused. Then the color poured in. It was a small room with normal hospital things, a little bathroom, a chair for someone to sleep on, the bed with white sheets, and an uncomfortable pillow. On the other side of the room was my sister she was 50 a little younger than I. My old self is 68. Beside her was Kayla. She was looking very scared and nervous.
"Kayla and Kathy so nice to see you guys." I said.
And then out popped Ben who had been hiding behind Kathy. Ben is 10 and my grandson thanks to my sister Kathy. We were all talking around when the door opened and in came the doctor.
"Hello Mr. McCullen, I am Dr. Angel. You were banged up pretty bad. Good thing you weren't to far from the hospital." said Dr. Angel.
"Yes thank God on that one. So whats going on?"
" Well in about 6 months after careful observation you are free to go."
"Really only 6 months. That's not to bad at all."
"Nope. I was just checking in on you to see if you woke up. I must be going now."
"Ok, I will see you later then."
"Goodbye Mr. McCullen."
"Yes we better be going to. Ben is hungry and we have to pick up things before the store closes." said Kathy.
"Ok then bye I love you."
When she left Kayla and I were the only ones left in the room. She told me how nervous she got when she got the call. And talked about stopping by often, every night when she got off work. Then she left and I was alone for the night. When 6 months came up only a handful of people who knew me showed up. And the day came when I was released. Kayla wanted to drive me home because she had plans that night. A I entered my house I stopped in front of my large mirror in the hall to look at myself. My skin was flushed all pink except for a few spots were it was healing better. The cuts were almost invisible now and my finger(that supposedly got cut off when the glass from the windshield exploded) was swollen a bit. The big surprise that Kayla was planning was the steak dinner that I promised 6 months ago. It was delicious. We talked about everything but the accident. Two months later I started feeling horrible. I had aches and pains, mild fever, vomititng, and worse of all I couldn't move two feet without feeling woozy. So back to the hospital I go thinking ti was the flu. Dr. Angel was in so he did my tests and after a hour in the ER he came back with my test results with horrifying results.
" I'm sorry to tell you but you have Septicemia."
" What is that doctor?"
"Septicemia is a rare blood disorder that poisons your blood after getting exposed to fire on your skin."
"So I have a real bad case of blood poisoning?"
"Yes it would seem so. But don't worry I caught it early so I can give you some pills and you will be better soon."
"Here you go these pills will cure you."
"ACP? Are you sure these will help?"
"Yes they will."
"Ok thanks again doctor."
"No problem. Now Kayla get him home safe."
"I sure will." said Kayla.
In the car Kayla said she was going to stay with me until I got better. So as I got in the house the bottle said to take two by mouth daily.
Hum, if i take two twice a day then it will speed it up faster and Kayla won't have to be worried more.
So I took two now and two more before I went to bed. I slept soundlessly that night. I woke up at 8 with a dry mouth but I didn't think anything of it. I did nothing all day and at 10 I took two more. I couldn't sleep that night. It felt like someone was cutting my air supply so I woke up in sweat and realized I couldn't really breathe. So once again I am being rushed in the hospital. The doctor was talking outside with Kayla and Kathy so I managed to grab my pills so I wouldn't forget to take them. I put them underneath my pillow as the doctor, Kayla, and Kathy all walked in.
"I don't know what is wrong with you this time." said the doctor.
"So we will have to keep you overnight." he said.
My voice was barely over a whisper.
"Ok then take your time."
He left closing the door and Kayla followed him out so my sister and I can have some time alone.
"Kathy" I said, "my time is almost up. I can feel it."
"No" she said through her tears, "it can't be I'm not ready to loose you."
"I'm sorry." I was starting to cry too. "God is saying it's my time to go and I'm not going to argue with him."
"I will fight for you don't forget that."
"Please, don't be upset forever move on. I would want you to."
She took my hand in hers and looked at me with red puffy eyes.
"I love you ok. Please don't leave me."
"I love you too..."
